Derbyshire

Register bizarrely contains the stats of notables as part of a social ritual

Prices for artist-decorated Royal Worcester porcelain have been waning since the collecting peak of the previous century. However, very substantial sums are still possible for the best of the genre.

Personal stories grab the attention of militaria collectors, transforming dry histories of dates and names, facts and figures into real-life flesh and blood tales.

This month, the Buxton Decorative, Antiques & Art Fair celebrates 60 years. Now the longest-running vetted art and antiques fair in the UK, it runs from May 29-31 at The Octagon at the Pavilion Gardens.

Collection of gallery owner and exhibition organiser includes letters from the likes of Bacon and Hockney

A collection of nine letters from Winnie the Pooh author AA Milne sold at Derbyshire saleroom Irita Marriott (24% buyer’s premium) had been passed down through the family of Vincent Seligman and his wife Barbara, who were lifelong friends of the author.

In the last ATG (No 2731) we featured an Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football sold on January 22 at Truro Auction Centre for £4200 and mentioned others sold at Hansons in 2022.

Dealers praise the friendly atmosphere of a Buxton event that has been running for nearly 50 years

Bizarrely, Ralph Fremlin – a devout Christian who founded Fremlin’s Brewery in Maidstone, Kent, in 1861 – was anti-drinking.

This 18th century hardwood tea caddy, boldly carved in imitation of gnarled rootwood and mounted in white metal, is an Anglo-Chinese production, made for export in Canton (modern-day Guangzhou) c.1780.

Seven international phone bidders competed a blue and white porcelain vase to nearly 1000 times its high estimate at Hansons (25.5% buyer’s premium) in Etwall, Derbyshire on October 9.

A new auction house backed by snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan is to open in a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Derbyshire next month.

A gilt metal cloak clasp taken from the apartment of Napoleon Bonaparte after his death on St Helena in 1821 has sold at auction for £10,000.

Serendipity had it that two Regency pollard oak and ebony inlaid desks attributed to George Bullock (c.1762-1818) came for sale within a matter of hours on June 12.

While few will welcome the news that Bonhams – the last of the major auction houses to hold regular sales Japanese works of art in London – is moving its department to Paris (ATG No 2690), there will be opportunities for UK salerooms that continue to plough this selective but occasionally fruitful furrow.